Looking to fill the empty pantries and pockets at the end of the semester, Cat’s Cupboard at Ohio University is holding a food drive from Monday-Sunday. The drive is hosted by Housing and Residence Life and THRiVE, OU’s student-led wellbeing initiative. The drive collects non-perishables for students.
During the fundraiser, students, staff and community members can drop off food donations to the different dining spots on campus, including Cat’s Cupboard in Baker 354, on-campus markets, West 82 and Ping Recreation Center.
Cat’s Cupboard collects donations to feed students and hopes to stock up on food and essentials before finals season. Many types of donations are accepted, but there are a few key items needed including grains, cooking oil, sugar and canned protein.
Ally Schatzer, assistant director for engagement within Housing and Residence Life, said the drive came to life as a way to implement students helping other students.
“The THRiVE initiative is just a piece under our well-being efforts that we make as a division, so it's just one facet of us trying to help students find what well-being means for them and making sure that they're connected to the right resources specifically for THRiVE,” Schatzer said.
One of the factors that went into the fundraiser occurring in the spring is the close proximity to finals week.
“Our thought is that once we enter close to finals season, students really have an increased amount of responsibility and time commitment to their academics that's higher than the rest of the semester most of the time,” Schatzer said. “Food insecurity is a real struggle and challenge that our students have, and our hope is to help reduce that or curve it completely by making sure Cat’s Cupboard is completely stocked.”
Although this is one of the first THRiVE drives, there are plans to make it a recurring event.
“We've been working really closely as a divisional team with the basic needs office to really determine what are the weeks during the fall semester or spring semester, where either donations are lower or just that's a high peak time in which they have a lot of people using Cat’s Cupboard,” Schatzer said.
The drive has a goal of reaching 1,804 pounds of donations, in typical Bobcat fashion. However, the main goal is to ensure students have enough food. Basic needs coordinator Catherine Lachman said there are plenty of ways to make a difference besides donating physical items.
“We're always looking for creative ways to connect with our campus community and to raise awareness,” Lachman said. “So any efforts at helping us stock food for the Cat’s Cupboard or reduce stigma in accessing resources and empowering our community are welcomed.”
For those who aren’t able to or prefer online donations, there is also an option to purchase items at Amazon. Students who donate in person at one of the drop-off locations also have the opportunity to earn rewards, such as Beats headphones, a Kindle and hockey game tickets.
However, Wes Bonadio, director of well-being and recreation, said helping others can be beneficial without receiving anything in return.
“For the campus community or the broader student population to be able to care or support those that are in need outside of themselves, obviously lifts up the community as a whole,” Bonadio said. “But then also, there is an intrinsic value where giving and donating and supporting the well-being of someone else helps your own personal well-being.”
Along with helping the community, Bonadio suggests that the drive is aiming to promote the overall benefit of helping yourself as well.
“That's something I think we want to try and promote, is that it's not just trying to do things for yourself that's good for you, but also supporting well being for others can help you in your own well-being as well,” Bonadio said.
